Galaxy of Stars® Talent Search finals set for August 30 at State Fair
The stage is set, the talent is top-notch, and the audience gets a say — Nebraska’s premier showcase for rising performers, the Galaxy of Stars® Talent Search, will hold its 2025 Finals on Saturday, August 30 at 4 p.m. on the ACP Park stage at the Nebraska State Fair.
This year, 29 individuals entered the Virtual Video Contest hosted by the Galaxy of Stars® and the Nebraska State Fair. In addition, local competitions at the Saline County Fair, Lincoln County Fair, and Coyote Country in McCook sent their winners to the finals. The result: 14 finalists from the Virtual Video Contest and four from local events will take the stage in Grand Island.
People’s Choice voting is open now through Wednesday, August 20 at 11:59 p.m., giving fans across the state the chance to help choose one of the awards. Videos of all finalists are available at StateFair.org/galaxy-of-stars.
Audiences at the finals can expect an exciting variety of performances, including dance and vocal acts from Nebraskans as young as six years old. Contestants compete across three age divisions:
Comets (12 & under)
Shooting Stars (13–18)
Novas (19 & over)
At the finals, each performer will receive a medal, with cash prizes and trophies awarded to the top three in each division. Special honors include the People’s Choice Award, Superstar Award, Shining Star Award, and the coveted Mega Star Award for the highest-scoring performance overall. The Overall Vocalist will also receive a $4,500 Nashville Recording Package.
“The Galaxy of Stars® Talent Search is more than a competition, it’s a statewide celebration of Nebraska’s rising stars,” said Karli Schulz. “Every performance is a reminder of the talent and community spirit that make our state shine.”
The 2025 Nebraska State Fair offers all fairgoers the chance to Showcase Your Fair Face, August 22 through September 1 at Fonner Park in Grand Island. The fair has drawn more than 4 million visitors to its home in Grand Island since 2010. More information about agricultural events and competitions, carnival entertainment, and other musical performances is available at www.StateFair.org.